]]>Chevrolet chose to introduce the 2018 Equinox last night, the evening of the autumn equinox, and it came with a surprise — a 1.6-liter turbo diesel that Chevy estimates will achieve and estimated 40 mpg in highway driving.

The compact crossover SUV segment is now the industry’s single-largest segment, and the Equinox crossover is Chevrolet’s second-best selling vehicle, with more than 2 million finding homes since its launch as 2005 model.

Only the Silverado pickup attracts more buyers.

The 2018 Equinox’s turbo diesel is a class exclusive in the U.S., but expect other automakers to follow in the next year or two.

A six-speed automatic transmission will direct the turbo diesel’s 136-horsepower output to either the front or all four wheels when equipped with all-wheel drive.

It’s not known if the estimated 40-mpg highway includes all-wheel drive models.

Typical of some carmakers looking to sell the sizzle, Chevrolet did not give estimated city or combined fuel economy numbers beyond the “40 mpg” highway figure.

Combined fuel economy is more reflective of real world driving, but the 40-mpg highway grabs more attention, at least for now.

For some idea of what the new diesel Equinox fuel economy might be, the 2015 Chevy Cruze turbo diesel has an EPA rating of 33-mpg combined, 27-mpg city and 46-mpg highway.

As for the new Equinox, its gas and diesel engine line up is all turbocharged.

The entry-level offering is a 1.5-liter gasoline turbo with 170 horsepower, an estimated fuel economy of 31-mpg highway and a six speed automatic.

Then there’s the more powerful gas 2.0-liter turbo, which has 252 horsepower and 28-highway mpg with a nine-speed automatic.

Built on a new platform, the 2018 Equinox contains only eight parts from the old model, is four inches shorter in length and 400 pounds lighter than the outgoing model.

“It is an all-new SUV from the ground up and one that takes on the industry’s biggest competitors with a stronger architecture, greater efficiency and more technology,” said Rick Spina, executive chief engineer.

Styling is lean and muscular, with design cues and shapes from the Chevy Volt, Malibu and Cruze.

The design features chrome trim on all models, projector-beam headlamps drawn from the Malibu are standard, along with LED daytime running lamps.

At the rear, horizontal tail lamps emphasize the Equinox’s wide stance, while up level models feature LED tail lamps.

The new architecture lets the crossover’s instrument panel be positioned down and away, and a low windshield panel allows a good forward view.

It also has a rear “kneeling” seat: The bottom cushions tilt forward when seatbacks are lowered, allowing a flat load floor.

There’s a full suite of infotainment and connectivity features available including a 7.0- and 8.0-inch MyLink infotainment systems designed to accommodate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; an OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot is also availabl

New parents will be attracted to the rear seat alert, which reminds them not to leave tots in the back seat, and those with teen drivers can keep track of their driving habits with Teen Driver.

On the safety front, the 2018 Equinox offers the optional forward-collision warning with a following-distance indicator and low-speed automatic braking; also available are lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox will reach dealer show rooms in the first quarter of 2017.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/surprise-2018-chevrolet-equinox-offers-turbocharged-diesel/feed/0Four Electrified Vehicles That Would Sell Great If Only Automakers Would Build Themhttp://www.hybridcars.com/four-electrified-vehicles-that-would-sell-great-if-only-automakers-would-build-them/
http://www.hybridcars.com/four-electrified-vehicles-that-would-sell-great-if-only-automakers-would-build-them/#commentsThu, 16 Jun 2016 18:45:19 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=454553Have you ever given thought to buying an electrified vehicle but realized what you wanted in terms of body style or features simply did not exist? We can’t tell you how many times we’ve spoken with people who – not knowing how limited the green car market is – have said they’d buy an electrified […]

]]>Have you ever given thought to buying an electrified vehicle but realized what you wanted in terms of body style or features simply did not exist?

We can’t tell you how many times we’ve spoken with people who – not knowing how limited the green car market is – have said they’d buy an electrified vehicle but needed it to be a 4WD pickup truck or crossover, and we had to inform them they’re not available.

To date, there are gaping holes in the assortment of larger vehicles that Americans buy in far higher volume. This was touched on by the “father of the Chevy Volt,” Bob Lutz, who is now aligned with Oregon-based Via Motors which converts GM trucks to plug-in hybrids that can net upwards of 100 mpg, or go 40 miles on battery alone.

PHEV trucks are great. Unfortunately you can’t have one because this is fleet only, and no major manufacturers want to build you one yet.

“We started at the wrong end. The whole automotive industry made the intellectual mistake of thinking EVs were all about maximum range, so we all started with small vehicles that are basically very economical anyway,” said Lutz of General Motors to the Seattle Times. “Yes, you do save fuel. You can use a smaller battery, but it makes less sense to take a 40 mpg vehicle and make it electric than it does to take a full-size pickup or SUV, which in town realistically gets 11 to 12 mpg.”

This said, in the event that automakers need help in not making more intellectual mistakes, we thought we’d do some brainstorming. Following are ideas for new vehicles that, while described only in broad brush, ought to be feasible. Call it the start of a fantasy wish list, and no doubt you could think of other ideas.

Potential Mass Market Electrified Vehicles

Our criteria was to imagine what would lend itself to widespread acceptance, spur competitors to play catch up, and broaden the market for electrified vehicles. So, no supercars, no high-five or six-figure boutique creations.

If the goal of electrification is to make selections people will buy, how can we help that along? Answer: By giving people what they want.

So, here are a few concepts. These are purely fictional. They do not exist. If they did, would you be interested?

Chevrolet Equinox PHEV – 37 miles EV range, 37 mpg on gas. $34,995

Before the 2011 Chevy Volt was in production, GM teased supporters that it could make more Voltec variants, and in 2010 it showed a Volt-based MPV5 crossover in China that was never produced.

What is GM waiting for? This is not clear when even automakers like Volkswagen have announced 30 new pure battery electric cars by 2025, and now that the second-generation 2016 Volt architecture is purpose-made to enable spinoffs.

The new 46-mpg Malibu Hybrid, built alongside the new Volt was the first spinoff, and given how hot the crossover segment is right now, how about some parts bin engineering to create an Eqiuinox with FWD and AWD capability?

The Malibu Hybrid’s 1.8-liter gas engine merged with 18.4-kWh battery might work. The standard 2.4-liter in the gas Equinox is rated 182 horsepower, 172-pounds-feet torque, and the Malibu Hybrid is also 182 horsepower with even better torque of 277 pounds-feet.

Rear wheel drive would take some engineering, potentially by adding a rear-wheel motor as other manufacturers already have in production.

If GM wants to do consumers a real favor, it might buck a trend among automakers to content it upwards so it costs so much more than conventional variants that people really have to scratch their heads to determine if it is worth it. Also appreciated would be if GM’s management price it right from the start instead of an MSRP so up there that it sells in such low volumes that it has to be discounted by factory incentives, low APR loans, cheap underwritten leases, and dealers having to cut price significantly just to move them.

That said, imagine a truly practical plug-in vehicle that comfortably seats five, has great winter traction, super efficiency, and not positioned as a rolling green halo but something that would make sense to more buyers.

This might be a good plan too, as it appears like it will be too late for a new PEV to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, unless this is extended, because by 2018 it’s likely the Volt and Bolt will use those up. So, pencils must be sharpened.

Ford F-150 PHEV – 38 miles EV range, 31 mpg on gas – $39,995

FoMoCo has a history of excellent hybrid powertrain engineering and has cross-licensed patents with Toyota. It has also demonstrated a willingness to innovate with mil-spec aluminum bodies, downsized turbo EcoBoost engines, so why not take it to the next level with America’s best-selling vehicle?

This is a model line that can sell close to 700,000 units annually. It is both a utilitarian conveyance for regular consumers, and useful in light duty commercial applications.

So, how would a 2.7-liter EcoBoost put on the Atkinson cycle work in the F-150 merged with hybrid architecture and room carved out for batteries under the large body on frame vehicle?

Of course it would need a satisfactory tow rating, 4WD capability, but could it be successful if Ford spent as much effort on this as, say, a GT supercar that few people will buy, and which does nothing for the environment.

Although Tesla has said it wants to build a pure electric pickup, Ford could leverage its extraordinary market position to turn its customer base on to a known quantity that can serve like an EV with enough range for average daily driving to be gas-free.

Or, maybe Ford is already thinking along these lines? In April, a spy photog caught a glimpse of what appears to be an F-150 test mule with plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Reports have said Ford has talked of producing this, perhaps as soon as 2020, so what do you think?

Sound like a good idea? Any suggestions while they are working out the details?

Toyota RAV4 PHEV – 24 miles EV range, 32 mpg on gas – $37,270

This seems like a logical next step given Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid priced only $700 more than comparable non hybrids is selling better than all hybrids except the Prius, and blowing plug-in hybrids and EVs out of the water.

Why? Because it hits a sweet spot. People want crossover SUVs and all wheel drive, so just like the Chevy Equinox formula for better living through plugging in, this could be Toyota’s game to lose.

How do they do it? Just add batteries. Where it may be an issue however is in packaging a 12-kWh battery without decimating storage space. This is a serious dilemma and Toyota’s engineers have not been willing to compromise cargo area like Honda did with its here-and-gone, California and New York only Accord Hybrid.

But when determined, Toyota has shown itself able to do it when it doubled the 4.4-kWh battery in the Prius Plug-in Hybrid to 8.8-kWh for the 2017 Prius Prime. This was accomplished by carving out space under the seat. In a RAV4 PHEV, creative thinking would also be required.

One wild idea could be what Porsche has experimented with by using empty cavity space inside of body panels and stuffing in battery assemblies where feasible, such as in the right and left rear quarter panels. A wiring loom and hardware would make separated battery modules act as one, and this could fix the packaging dilemma so everybody is happy.

This week the chief engineer of the Prius did say Toyota will be increasingly open to more PHEVs and maybe even EVs. It’s better known for resisting plug-ins and pushing fuel cells, and it has not recanted that idea, but it is now saying battery electrification will be needed to drive down its carbon footprint.

More comprehensive would be a clean-sheet engineering of purpose made plug-in platforms – probably the best solution – or Toyota can get started like the Europeans have and make existing variants work.

We’ll leave the details to the engineers in Japan, but do you think people would buy such a RAV4 PHEV if available? Like the Chevy, a super favor to buyers would be to not equip it exclusively with near-Lexus levels of accoutrements, and make a base LE version.

Toyota Prius Liftback AWD with Tow Package – 52 mpg – $28,200

Last, but with potential to be first to see the light of day could be the world’s best-selling green car, and highest mpg vehicle you can get without a plug – at least until the Hyundai Ioniq comes later this year, says Hyundai.

One of these is its optional E-Four all wheel drive system which costs around $1,500. This electric rear-wheel motor is not mechanically linked to the front Hybrid Synergy Drive system. In the U.S. Toyota equips only crossovers from Lexus and Toyota with this elegant solution.

We’ve seen green car fans allege conspiracy that Toyota wants to push them to the RAV4 Hybrid which gets 18 mpg less fuel economy but which is one of the E-Four AWD recipients.

Well, why not make a whole swath of the U.S. market that sees snow each winter happy by giving them a super fuel efficient Prius with AWD for traction?

Then, while Toyota is at it, how about if it brings over more of the good stuff it is holding back, namely, the European market trailer package, complete with dealer installed accessories, and tow rating of up to 1,600 pounds.

People already put receiver hitches on the Prius for things like bike and ski racks, but could you imagine a flyweight travel trailer with room for 2-4 people and warranty is not voided?

All of a sudden the great American road trip could be politically correct, environmentally friendly, and you could drive your Prius to go camping in the Adirondacks or Yosemite at maybe 43 mpg give or take on the highway with trailer in tow. Sound cool?

Why don’t they do these things when the capability is already in their hands?

What Else?

The sky is the limit. These were just four ideas, but many others could work. Automakers are now being driven by regulations tor reduce the average fuel consumption across their product selections. They are thinking now about what will sell and be financially worthwhile also.

If you had any doubt, carmakers do want to make money, and are not willfully sabotaging themselves. If they could please the stockholders with fat profits from minivans that run on banana oil – and satisfy regulators too – they’d be investing heavily in bananas. If it got big enough, banana engineering could even become a new college major for parents to proudly send their sons and daughters away to after graduating high school.

Seriously, automakers must weigh a multitude of variables average armchair engineers never think of when they are just dreaming with no one to please but themselves. And, these global manufacturers with huge liability and overhead must follow tens of thousands of pages of regulations, work with suppliers, set up assembly lines, and that is only after thorough R&D and testing.

But that is their business, and the need for a greater variety of fuel-saving, low greenhouse gas cars is there, isn’t it? So, what kind of vehicle would you like to see added to the list?

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/four-electrified-vehicles-that-would-sell-great-if-only-automakers-would-build-them/feed/0Chevy Launching OnStar 4G LTEhttp://www.hybridcars.com/chevy-launching-onstar-4g-lte/
http://www.hybridcars.com/chevy-launching-onstar-4g-lte/#commentsMon, 06 Jan 2014 15:54:12 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=110201Chevrolet announced starting this summer it will have some of the fastest vehicles on the roads, and that it has nothing to do with horsepower. Chevrolet said drivers will be enjoying high-speed data – made possible by a new OnStar 4G LTE connection in the vehicle, running on AT&T’s network. Chevrolet made the announcement at […]

]]>Chevrolet announced starting this summer it will have some of the fastest vehicles on the roads, and that it has nothing to do with horsepower.

Chevrolet said drivers will be enjoying high-speed data – made possible by a new OnStar 4G LTE connection in the vehicle, running on AT&T’s network.

Chevrolet made the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show, confirming the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette, Impala, Malibu, and Volt would be the first General Motors’ vehicles to come optionally equipped with OnStar 4G LTE. They will be followed by the Equinox, Silverado, Silverado HD, Spark and Spark EV.

In the Canadian market, OnStar with 4G LTE will be introduced on the Chevrolet Trax as well.

The majority of the 2015 Chevrolet lineup in the U.S and Canada will have a 4G LTE connection built-in at vehicle launch. Chevrolet added more models will be announced later this year.

“Chevrolet is expected to implement the broadest deployment of 4G LTE in the automotive industry,” said Alan Batey, senior vice president of Global Chevrolet. “The fact that OnStar with 4G LTE will be available in models that range from the Chevrolet Spark to the Silverado to the Corvette, is indicative of our broad commitment to deliver more value and convenience through smart technology applications. This new, purposeful technology solution will make our consumers lives easier to connect.”

Chevy explained the 4G LTE rollout will bring a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to most Chevrolet vehicles, which allows passengers to connect their personal devices, such as smartphones, laptops and tablets, to high-speed wireless internet. Each vehicle can accommodate multiple devices at one time.

“We know that our customers rely on being connected on a daily, if not hourly basis, and they expect to be provided with the information and content they desire with no interruptions,” said Mary Chan, president, GM’s Global Connected Consumer. “A 4G LTE hotspot that’s built into a car’s architecture will provide a more consistent and powerful Wi-Fi connection than a smartphone.”

Chevrolet added with OnStar’s 4G LTE connection, the vehicle acts as a mobile hub, giving customers easier access to apps and services that require a high-speed cellular or data connection. The vehicle will employ a wireless connection that does not rely on a brought-in mobile device.

Building on the OnStar 4G LTE, Chevrolet said MyLink will offer consumers an enhancement with the built in AppShop, available on select 2015 Chevrolet models in the U.S. and Canada. AppShop will benefit from the embedded 4G LTE connection.

Chevrolet’s 4G LTE launch coincides with the 10th hardware generation of OnStar, a service that debuted in GM vehicles in 1996. The upgrade will allow for voice and high speed data services.

“We are focused on constantly improving the OnStar service so that the system continues to remain a trusted value-add for GM drivers,” said Terry Inch, chief operating officer, OnStar. “4G LTE will enable the most powerful OnStar connection ever.”

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/chevy-launching-onstar-4g-lte/feed/02007 Hydrogen-Powered Chevy Equinox Rolls Over 100,000 Mileshttp://www.hybridcars.com/2007-hydrogen-powered-chevy-equinox-rolls-over-100000-miles/
http://www.hybridcars.com/2007-hydrogen-powered-chevy-equinox-rolls-over-100000-miles/#commentsTue, 22 Oct 2013 15:56:24 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=83593General Motors revealed one of its fuel cell research vehicles recently passed a milestone for a hydrogen-powered vehicle, topping 100,000 miles of real-world driving. GM said that by using renewable hydrogen, this vehicle has saved 5,260 gallons of gasoline. At $3.50 per gallon, that represents more than $18,000 in fuel cost savings. The specially equipped […]

To date, GM’s fuel cell test fleet has accumulated nearly 3 million miles. By GM’s calculations, the fleet has saved 157,894 gallons of gasoline – more than $552,631 in avoided fuel cost.

During Project Driveway, the 100,000-mile Fuel Cell Equinox operated as a fleet vehicle at Walt Disney Company’s studio in Burbank. After Project Driveway, it became an engineering development vehicle driven by as many as 10 GM engineers.

Todd Goldstein from GM’s Advanced Technology Demonstration Program was behind the wheel of the fuel cell vehicle when its odometer reached 100,000 miles. The senior project engineer routinely drives the vehicle between the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance and outlying communities of Oxnard, Santa Clarita, Victorville, Palm Springs and San Diego.

“The Fuel Cell Equinox is an attention-getter everywhere I go,” Goldstein said. “The people who ask me about it are very enthusiastic about the technology.”

GM said the company is an acknowledged leader in fuel cell technology; according to Clean Energy Patent Growth Index, GM ranked No. 1 in total fuel cell patents filed between 2002 and 2012.

The company is currently building a new Fuel Cell Development Laboratory in Pontiac, Mich., where the majority of the company’s future fuel cell development work will take place.

GM has announced two fuel cell-related collaborations this year. In July, GM and Honda announced a long-term, definitive master agreement to co-develop a next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies, aiming for the 2020 time frame. In September, GM and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center said they are expanding their co-development of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

“We believe hydrogen fuel cell technology holds tremendous potential to one day help reduce our dependence on petroleum,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM’s global fuel cell engineering activities. “The resilience of our test fleet and new research partnerships are helping us reach this goal.”

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/2007-hydrogen-powered-chevy-equinox-rolls-over-100000-miles/feed/0Volt To Be Available With Sirihttp://www.hybridcars.com/volt-to-be-available-with-siri/
http://www.hybridcars.com/volt-to-be-available-with-siri/#commentsTue, 15 Oct 2013 04:00:34 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=80633Additional Chevrolet vehicles are now available with Siri, including the Volt. Chevrolet also announced that additional vehicles with Chevrolet MyLink will be available with Siri Eyes Free Integration, Apple’s assistant. “The response to Siri Eyes Free integration in Chevy Sonic and Spark from our customers has been remarkable,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet vice president of […]

]]>Additional Chevrolet vehicles are now available with Siri, including the Volt.

Chevrolet also announced that additional vehicles with Chevrolet MyLink will be available with Siri Eyes Free Integration, Apple’s assistant.

“The response to Siri Eyes Free integration in Chevy Sonic and Spark from our customers has been remarkable,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet vice president of U.S. Marketing. “Easy, reliable and portable connectivity is a top priority for our customers, and Siri complements MyLink’s existing capabilities to help deliver an incredible driving experience, so we’re excited to expand this to even more customers.”

The Chevrolet cars to get Siri besides the Volt will be the 2014 Camaro, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu, and SS

Chevrolet explained through the cars’ available Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, customers with a compatible iPhone running iOS 6 or iOS 7 can direct Siri to perform a number of tasks while they safely keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. To help further minimize distraction, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further with an Eyes Free mode which enables drivers to interact with their iPhones using nothing more than their voice while keeping the device’s screen from lighting up.

Owners simply connect their iPhone to the MyLink radio via Bluetooth, pair with the system, and use the steering wheel voice activation button to begin and end sessions with Siri in Eyes Free mode.

According to Chevrolet, on the 2014 Camaro, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu, SS and Volt vehicles equipped with MyLink, owners can use Siri in Eyes Free mode to:

Make voice-activated, hands-free calls to Contacts on their iPhone

Play songs in their iTunes libraries, and even switch music sources automatically from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode

Listen to, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number or anyone in saved Contacts

Access Calendar and add appointments

In addition, these vehicles also come with six months of OnStar’s premium Directions and Connections service.

Most smartphone owners can also download the RemoteLink Mobile App, which allows current OnStar subscribers to control and manage certain vehicle functions from their phone. RemoteLink Key Fob Services, which include the ability to lock or unlock a vehicle, flash the lights and honk the horn, or start the engine on properly equipped vehicles, are free for five years and do not require an OnStar subscription.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/volt-to-be-available-with-siri/feed/0Magna E-Car Systems and GM Test Electric Crossovers in Canadahttp://www.hybridcars.com/magna-e-systems-and-gm-test-electric-crossovers-canada-32844/
http://www.hybridcars.com/magna-e-systems-and-gm-test-electric-crossovers-canada-32844/#commentsWed, 23 Nov 2011 11:33:48 +0000http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8876Last week Magna E-Car Systems and General Motors of Canada announced a joint project to evaluate a fleet of nine battery electric Chevrolet Equinox crossovers. The converted vehicles are to be studied by a number of interested stakeholders as a step toward possibly producing these types of electric vehicles. “Collaboration between automakers, suppliers, utility companies […]

Last week Magna E-Car Systems and General Motors of Canada announced a joint project to evaluate a fleet of nine battery electric Chevrolet Equinox crossovers.

The converted vehicles are to be studied by a number of interested stakeholders as a step toward possibly producing these types of electric vehicles.

“Collaboration between automakers, suppliers, utility companies and the government is essential in order to develop solutions for future mobility,” said Ted Robertson, Vice Chairman, Magna E-Car Systems. “Such collaboration can enhance innovation and reduce costs, particularly in fleet projects such as this where the resulting data and lessons learned are useful to all participants.”

The drivetrain was developed by Magna E-Car Systems in Aurora, Ontario and help with system integration was provided by GM’s Canadian Engineering Centre in Oshawa, Ontario.

It utilizes an electric motor that generates maximum power of 105 kilowatts and energy is supplied from a 33-kwh battery pack.

A key question to be answered by monitoring this demonstration fleet will be what is the real-world range achievable by an electric vehicle of this size?

Although the drivetrain is Magna’s, GM is presenting its part in this collaboration as a facet of its global effort to push the frontier forward.

“This demonstration project is the latest example of GM’s commitment to broaden our vehicle electrification technology expertise working with a leading Canadian supplier, like Magna E-Car Systems,” said Matthew Crossley, Director, Canadian Engineering for General Motors of Canada Limited. “This pilot project will help both GM and Magna E-Car Systems gather key learnings about the integration of vehicle electrification technologies.”

Via a Magna press release, GM said its goals are at a stage now where demonstration fleets around the world are proving what will work, and what will not.

Thus far, the only all-electric vehicle GM has divulged definite plans to produce is the 2013 Spark EV. Also pending is the extended-range Cadillac ELR – and a production time frame for this car is yet to be announced.

But GM reiterated that its investment capital arm – GM Ventures – is also placing key bets in promising technologies and the company is working behind the scenes to be ready to compete with anyone.

Included in GM’s efforts therefore, is this latest fleet test with Magna E-Car Systems. As part of the far-reaching Magna International, the E-Car Systems arm has high hopes for its design, engineering, manufacturing, vehicle integration and testing on a global scale as well.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/magna-e-systems-and-gm-test-electric-crossovers-canada-32844/feed/02010 Chevrolet Equinoxhttp://www.hybridcars.com/chevrolet-equinox/
http://www.hybridcars.com/chevrolet-equinox/#commentsTue, 01 Sep 2009 21:57:06 +0000http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=5888Hybrid shoppers looking for an efficient small SUV will logically put the Ford Escape Hybrid at the top of their list. The Escape Hybrid, with its city fuel efficiency rating of 36 mpg, is way ahead of the pack for in-town driving. But on the highway, the Escape Hybrid is beat out by a gas-powered […]

]]>Hybrid shoppers looking for an efficient small SUV will logically put the Ford Escape Hybrid at the top of their list. The Escape Hybrid, with its city fuel efficiency rating of 36 mpg, is way ahead of the pack for in-town driving. But on the highway, the Escape Hybrid is beat out by a gas-powered SUV—and it’s not a Toyota Rav4 or Honda CR-V. The 2010 Chevy Equinox leads the segment with a highway fuel economy rating of 32 miles to the gallon.

If you’re thinking about buying a Chevy Equinox, you might also consider a Ford Escape Hybrid or a Pontiac Vibe. Compare these vehicles.

Moreover, the 2010 Chevy Equinox offers a sharp new design, ultra-quiet ride, generous backseat, and compelling high-tech features. And in these tough economic times, it’s the Equinox’s base model price tag of $23,185—about six grand below the Escape Hybrid—that might get you into the showroom for a test drive. (More expensive Equinox trim levels rise into the high-$20,000 range.)

The key to the vehicle’s fuel economy is its efficient four-cylinder direct-injection engine, not previously available with the Equinox. Additional efficiencies come from improved aerodynamics—the drag coefficient of the 2010 model dropped from 0.42 to 0.36 compared to its predecessor. GM engineers also provide an “eco” button to alter throttle and gear behavior for an additional 1 mpg—but that feature is more about making the Equinox seem hybrid-esque, than about real and substantial fuel economy gains. Meanwhile, the 32-mpg rating on the highway speaks for itself.

The Equinox is packed with features that bring its curb weight to 3,800 pounds—causing some compromise on performance. Automobile Magazine said, “Driving the Equinox is a passive experience. Power delivery is smooth, but slow.” Autoblog wrote, “The four-cylinder Equinox is no speed demon, but it has enough acceleration that you’ll never worry about merging onto freeways or making a pass with a reasonable amount of room.” And Popular Mechanics said, “Fortunately, the six-speed automatic shifts with precision and extracts every bit of thrust available.”

More power is available from the V6 version, but it comes at a cost of $1,500 and a dip in fuel economy from 22 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway to 18 city / 25 highway.

Rumors of a hybrid version of the Equinox were squashed by GM spokespeople, but with the recent cancellations of a Saturn and Buick small and economical SUVs, perhaps the Equinox will adopt GM’s currently homeless plug-in hybrid drivetrain. (It makes sense but is pure speculation at this point.) The Equinox is currently used as a platform for GM’s fuel cell program.

Style and Size

Any slight shortcomings in the Equinox’s performance are more than made up with its design enhancements. The auto press is using terms like stylish, tasteful, clean, well proportioned and modern to describe the Equinox’s interior and exterior. The interior’s most striking feature is the dual instrumental panel, and the flow of dashboard into the door panels, borrowed from other recent GM vehicles.

At 187.7 inches in length, the Equinox out-spans the Escape by 13 inches and the Toyota RAV4 by six inches. The rear bench seat slides almost eight inches to either provide bountiful legroom or extra space for cargo. Seatbacks that recline at three different angles, and a flat floor, further enhance comfort. Sorry, but no optional third-row seating like the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe, or much larger Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

The feeling of comfort is enhanced by the quiet ride. GM employs an “active noise cancellation system,” using the stereo speakers to emit waves that cancel out certain frequencies. Laminated front glass, triple seals on all four doors, and extensive sound-deadening material reduce the quietness to the level of its luxury competitors.

Techno-Goodies

Standard equipment on all models includes an auxiliary audio input, cruise control, XM satellite radio, OnStar, a compass, and power windows, mirrors, and door locks with keyless entry, and an eight-speaker Pioneer audio system with audio controls on the steering wheel.

Two eight-inch monitors are placed on the rear of the front seatbacks. Remote start can be equipped to control heat and AC (as well as available heated seats) to automatically warm or cool your car based on the outside temperature. An optional power rear lift gate opens to a programmable height to prevent the Equinox from smacking the roof of your garage.

Navigation-equipped cars also come with a 40-gigabye hard drive for storing music. The optional back-up camera displays in the rearview mirror on cars without navigation.

All told, the 2010 Chevy Equinox is a welcome addition to the small entry-level SUV class. It’s not a hybrid, but considering its highway mileage and low price point, it deserves a look from SUV shoppers trying to go further on a gallon of gas.